At the age of 22, Griedge MBock has come a long way since his first young U17 team pick. La Bretonne joined in July 2015 the best European club, Lyon, to continue its progression in the elite. Today, she knows that she has room for improvement, to settle permanently in France A team. Interview.



Soccer Hearts - At only 22 years old you have become almost an essential player in the French team. When you arrive in A, you said that your models were Wendie Renard and Laura Georges. 4 years later do you realize that now the model, it can be you?
It is true that since they are still there, I can not project myself into this role but I'm still aware that now it's been a few years that I'm here [in France team] and that I can serve as a model for young people who are coming or going.


Hearts of Football - How are you trying to integrate them with young people or the news that is coming? Are you trying to give them more advice to young people who have not gone through young selections like you?
No I have no more advice to give them than that but after we try to integrate them well, to give them some precepts whether on or off the field. We try to accompany them to the maximum and they feel as comfortable as possible.


"To win a title with them was really huge"


Football Hearts - You are one of those players from all categories of the French team, but you have probably the most beautiful winners: a world cup under 17, a European Cup under 19 years, a podium at the world cup under 20 years ... Not to mention your titles with Lyon. What is your favorite title memory?
(she bites her lips) I think it's still the U-17 World Cup in Azerbaijan. I think this is one of my best memories because it was already the first title for me and in addition to our generation 95/96, we had a good dynamic and frankly win a title with them it was really huge. In addition, at the U17 World Cup, the organizers had put the means, it was really great as a competition.


Hearts of Foot - In the end the real title which you miss in your young and already rich career is a trophy with the team of France A?
Yes it is a goal like all of us. Everyone is eager to bring back a title and more if we can do it in front of our public in 2019 it would be really huge.


Hearts of Foot - First tenure, superb overflow left side and center recessed for Renard who marks, so first decisive pass. First defender of the history of the Women's World Cup to win the Golden Ball (under 17 in 2012), the biggest transfer of the history of French women's football ... In short, you like to be the first it looks like?
I do not necessarily do it on purpose [to be first] (smile). After personal it is sure that it is always rewarding, I am really proud of it but after I do not dwell on it. I know that I still have a lot to work on and that my progress is not over. These are great rewards but I do not dwell on them.


Hearts of Foot - There is still a field where it was necessary to wait, it is your 27th selection in Blue so that you mark a goal. But suddenly you get a double, the only two goals of the match against South Africa in Reunion. A magic moment, no doubt. Can you describe these two goals?
Yes it was against South Africa in Reunion (January 2017) and it's a free kick from Sandie [Toletti] who is deflected by Wendie [Renard] and I'm at the far post, so I have more than to put the foot flat and that's a goal. The second it seems to me that it is still a free kick that is returned, Eugénie [Le Sommer] shifts the ball to my side and I put a cross shot that goes into the goal.


Hearts of Foot - In an interview you said that little you thought that the team of France was mixed.
Yes it is true (light laugh) At first I did not know that the team of France feminine existed and for me when the girls were strong, they went with the boys in selection. I was small (smile), do not blame me (laughs).


Football Hearts - You are only 22 years old, still a lot of time in front of you, but you've already won everything with Lyon, so you can wonder if an experience abroad will not tempt you in the years to come?
Why not. After today I'm in Lyon so I really focus on Olympique Lyonnais and we'll see what happens next but for now I'm very good at OL. And I want to continue to win the most titles with Lyon.

Soccer Hearts - You have been named ambassador of the U20 World Cup this summer in Brittany. Are you happy? Even if your main goal is to stay 2019 or even the Olympics of 2024?
Yes, of course. In addition I am lucky to be an ambassador to the side of Eugénie [Le Sommer] and Camille [Abily] so it is a great pride. Brittany is a football ground and I think that the Women's World Cup will be very well received there.


Hearts of Soccer - As an ambassador for this major competition, what role will you play with Eugénie Le Sommer and Camille Abily?
We will especially play a role in the digital, around the communication on social networks and try to attract as many people as possible for fans to attend the U20 World Cup.


Soccer Hearts - So I had a question about your game. I know you're a very powerful player. Before Lyon, you played at Guingamp and I think you had a role more leader (she nods to say yes) where you were a little more solicited in the middle. Am I wrong where is that?
No it is true that I brought a little more to Guingamp because I took a little more risk we will say. Now I am surrounded by players in midfield, where they are given the ball and they combine. And I do not necessarily need to bring a more offensive. But after that I happen from time to time to participate in the game, finally to go to the ball and create the gap.


Soccer Hearts - In fact Sarah M'Barek (coach Guingamp) she implicated you a little more in the game and I remember one of your free kicks against FF Issy, who had finished on the crossbar and who had surprised everyone. I think this power is what Lyon was looking for at home?
Yes I think when I arrived in Lyon, they were also looking for someone who was powerful enough, fast and who could bring in the game. Basically a player who could play alongside Wendie [Renard]. Here I am and it went very well.


Football hearts - Now you are more or less settled with Lyon, but you know that you still have to make your place in the France team with Laura George in front?
Yes after it's a competition, it's normal, but it's healthy competition so it's good. It pushes us to go even further and make progress day by day. This is a good thing.


Football Hearts - And on what points do you think you need to improve yourself personally to progress?
I think I still need to improve in aggression. I think I have a big margin of progression in aggression.


Football Hearts - Okay, because sometimes in some matches with Wendie Renard, you get the impression that it's difficult to calculate the movements of your opponents. How are things on the ground for you at this level?
No, I think that in aggressiveness, I have to be a little harder. Yes, it may be that in the movements of the opposing attacker, I must do a job in the judgment of these movements. I have several areas where I have to work (smile) that I am still progressing, that I am improving but it will come.


Football Hearts - How do you plan to work on your aggression?
In training already. I know I have a nonchalant side a little and I must try to erase it as and when. It is hard because I have it (gesture of the hand towards his heart) but it is unconscious therefore it is necessary that I am concentrated all the time and that I pay attention to every second.


Football Hearts - Is not it also the fact of having gone from young to old, which has disturbed you a little in your momentum? Because we have the impression that among young people you assumed your job more serenely.
No I think that with seniors is the high level so it goes faster, must be concentrated all the time because the slightest error is paid cash and necessarily I must work on the concentration especially.


Football Hearts - So last question, it's not about football, on the pitch at least. I saw that you did a survey for a study on football. What exactly does this project tell us?
(smile) In fact, with a few girls from the team we did a training of proximity manager and they asked us to do a final dissertation. And I do on the valorization of the women's team of Olympique Lyonnais. So I did a little poll to know the desires and expectations of supporters against this. More simply, it is to improve the visibility of the Lyon women's team.


Interview by: Morgane Huguen and Dounia Mesli